Despite a version of Street Fighter IV having already been released for Apple's iOS platform, producer Yoshinori Ono says he isn't convinced hardcore games can succeed on the platform.

Speaking in an interview with CVG, Ono-san was asked if the more complete version of Super Street Fighter IV developed for the Nintendo 3DS could work on the iPad, given the performance boost the second generation of the hardware has received.

Ono replied by saying that comparisons drawn between the power of the 3DS and the iPad 2 only look at the hardware on a superficial level, and that the 3DS' is a stronger platform since it was developed entirely for gaming.

"When people say the capabilities are the same they're obviously only looking at graphics. OK, in terms of graphics it might be possible but iPad 2 and iPhone are primarily smart phone device plus alpha, whereas 3DS is designed for games," he said.

"There is a difference between something that is made for playing games and something that can 'also' play games. Even if they appear similar at times the pool of tools available behind the screen is totally different.

"All these features and pockets that the 3DS has as a games console just can't be compared with an iPhone and iPad where people can 'also' use it to play games but it is primarily a phone and app device," he explained.

Returning to the question, Ono said he felt that although "a glimpse" of Street Fighter can be experienced on the iPhone ultimately he feels that people don't want to play hardcore games on them.

"A glimpse of Street Fighter can be enjoyed on iPhone but would people really play hardcore games on them? I don't think so, because they're just not made for them. At the end of the day game consoles are for games so it's quite clearly divided and differentiated," he said.

"I should emphasise that the difference is in 'for' and 'can', so it 'can play games' or 'it's for games'. It's only one word but it is very very important, that word differentiates everything," he added.

Games made specifically for it like Cut the Rope or TinyWings are great but ported games that would greatly benefit from having physical buttons (like Secrets of Mana, FF 1 and 2, MegaMan etc etc) are really painful to play on it.

Certain games require some kind of proper interface (controller/keyboard/mouse).

Well the new Sony Xperia play (Android) has a slide out controller pad. I'm not sure if it's as good as a dedicated gaming interface, but it certainly gives the player more options. With the IPhone though, you get no choice in the hardware

Is this specifically about Street Fighter? Because Street Fighter enthusiasts would argue that a regular console controller is not suitable enough for Street Fighter.

But as far as hardcore games, games like Dead Space, Sword & Sworcery, Starfront, and Chaos Rings say otherwise. And the experience of playing Final Fantasy III is far more enjoyable than on the DS.

Dead Space is probably one of the best portable "hardcore" game experiences I've had. It really all depends on execution and whether or not a developer is lazy about design or not.

But as far as mobile/portable gaming as a whole (in the perspective as an adult) I really don't get why hardcore games is such a big topic of debate. Because games on the go serve merely as a distraction, and not a full experience. This is probably why casual games are blowing up like crazy in the appstore. Because a 5-15 minute distraction is what most people need. This is one reason why I haven't really used my DS in the past couple years. Because if you're at home, wouldn't you rather use your gaming time on a PC or console rather than a handheld device?

As much as I've had hours of fun on my phone playing games, theres is not one game that comes even close to the full gaming experience of something on my 3ds. Even games like Dead Space on iphone as good as they are would be considered mediocre on 3ds/vita.